Self-feeding attachment for ensilage cutters



H; A. BILLINGSLEY. SELF FEEDING ATTACHMENT FOR ENSILAGE CUTTERS APPLICATION FILED NOV-12, I920 Patented May 16, 1922.

' A TTORNE Y.

HENRY A; BILLIIIGSLEY, 0F COVINGT'ON, OHIO.

SELF-FEEDING- ATTACHIVFJENT' FOB ENSILAGE CUTTERS.

Application filed November 12, 1920- SerialNo. 423,592.

T 0 all w/ZOHZ it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. BILLINGS- LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Covington, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in a Self-Feeding Attachment for Ensilage Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ensilage cutters, and more particularly to the feeding means therefor.

An important object of this invention is to provide a feeding mechanism for ensilage cutters which is entirely automatic in its operation and which, therefore,- requires but a small amount of attention.

The invention forming the subject matter of'this application aims also to provide an ensilage feeding mechanism having means for feeding bundles of ensilageof irregular size to the cutter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a feeder for ensilage capable of use in connection with any standard cutter.

A further object is to provide a feeder of the class described which is efficient, durable in use and cheap to manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the 1mproved cutter in use,

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 generally designates the improved cutter attachment which is adapted for feeding the ensilage to the cutter. The cutter which forms no part of this invention may be of standard construction and is provided with cutting means diagrammatically shown in the drawing and designated by the letter C.

The improved feeder forming the subject matter of this application comprises a platform 11 over which theensilage passes on its.

way to the cutting devices C. A pair of standards 12 are secured to opposite sides of the platform 11 and form a supporting means for a transversely extending crank 14 having a power transmitting device 15 connected thereto so that the shaft may be connected to a source of power.

The shaft 14: is provided 'with a pair of oppositely directed cranks 16, each of which has a pair of feeding members connected of feeding members comprises in Figure 1, a rod.21 is slidable within each tubular section 18 and has its lower end formed with ensil age engaging members or teeth 22 which are pressed into contact with the ensilage by means of a retractile coil spring 24 confined between the lower end of the tubular section 18 and the ensilage engaging members 22'. The outward movement of the rod is, however, limited by means of aih eaded pin 25 which. operates through an elongated slot 26 formed in the tubular section 18. The pin .25 is rigidly secured to the rod 21. .During the rotation of the shaft 14 in an anti-clockwise direction, the tubular section 18 isperiodically moved downwardly and forwardly with the result that the teeth 22 are brought downwardly and forwardly into contact with the material thereby advancing the same in the direction of the cutters. The rod 21, of course, moves into the tubular section 18 to a limited extent as the tubular section 18 moves downwardly and forwardly.

The tubular section 18 is positioned during the rotation of the shaft 14 by means of a forwardly extending rod 30 which is connected at its forward end to a stationary part of the cutter support designated by the numeral 31. Each pair of feeding members also includes a forwardly extending feeder 32 having its rear end portion connected to the crank at one side of the bearing 20 and its forward end portion extending angularly and provided. with teeth 34. The forward portion of the feeder arm 32 and the intermediate portion of the rod 30 are connected by an extensible or telescopic link generally designated by the numeral 36. As illustrated in Figure 1 the extensible link 36 comprises male and female slidably connected sections limited in their movement with relation to each other by means of a pin 37. A coil spring 38 surrounds the link 36 and serves to press the teeth 84: into. contact with the ensilage as the teeth move forwardly.

In the operation of the improved feeder, the two sets of teeth 22 are alternately engaged with the material so as-to advance the same. The two sets of teeth 3 f formed at the forward ends of the feeder arms 32 are also alternately engaged with the material by reason of the fact that they are operated by the oppositely directed cranks.

Since the teeth 22 and 34 are capable of yielding during operation, they are capable of feeding bundles of irregular sizes without unduly straining the feeder or rendering the same inoperative.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A feeder comprising a shaft having a crank, a feeding member connected intermediate its ends to said crank and comprising a tubular section and a rod slidable within the tubular section, material engaging teeth carried by said rod, a second feeding member connected to said crank and having its forward portion provided with coil spring confined between said teeth and connected intermediate their ends to said cranks and inclusive of tubular sections and rods slidable within said tubular sections, said rods being provided with material engaging teeth, coil springs confined between said tubular sections and said teeth, means secured to the upper ends of said tubular sections for positioning said feeding members, a second set of feedingmembers connected to said cranks and provided at their forward ends with material engaging teeth, extensible links pivoted to said means and said second named set of feeding members, and coil springs surrounding said links and adapted for urging said second named set of teeth into contact with the material.

In testimony whereof, I have afiiXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY A. BILLINGSLEY. Witnesses VVM, H. MOCURDY, J ENNIE BILLINGSLEY. 

